Holder for game blocks



Dec. 1.1, 1956 T. P. HOUSLEY HOLDER FOR @AM3 BLOCKS Filed Sept. 2l, 1954 '5% lNVENToR fianzas Haas/g ATTO RNEY United States Patent O 'HOLDER FOR GAME BLOCKS Thomas P. Housley, Coral Gables, Fla. Application September 21, 1954, Serial No. 457,365 2 Claims. (Cl. 273-130) This invention relates to block assembly games.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provi-de a block assembly game in which blocks are inserted and thereafter heldin place in an improved manner.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a block assembly game having a block holder for resiliently gripping and holding the blocks.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a block assembly game which is suitable for use by handicapped persons, such as those with limited capacity for handling objects, by blind persons, or by color blind persons.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a block assembly game having a block holder which can be readily constructed of molded synthetic plastic material.

Other objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the specification and claims.

The nature and characteristic features of the invention will be more readily understood from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part thereof in which:

Figure 1 is a View in perspective of a block holder employed in connection with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in perspective of one form or type of block which may be employed `in connection with the invention;

Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of another form or type of block which may be employed in connection with the invention;

Fig. 4 is a top plan View of the block holder shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational View of the block holder shown in Fig. 1; parts being broken away to show the details of construction;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken approximately on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a front elevational view of the block holder shown in Fig. 1, parts being broken away to show the details of construciton.

It should, of course, be understood that the description and drawings herein are illustrative merely, and that various modifications and changes may be made in the structure disclosed wtihout departing from the spirit of the invention.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. .2 yand 3, the blocks there shown at 10 and 11 are preferably square cubes of predetermined uniform unit dimensions between the parallel faces thereof. The blocks 10 and 11 are preferably of relatively rigid material, such as rigid plastic, wood or the like and the exterior faces of half the total number of blocks are preferably differently colored from that of the other half of the total number of blocks. The block 10 is sha-ded to indicate blue and the block 11 to indicate gold. While any `desired number of blocks ,l 2,773,690 Patented Dec. 11, 1956 may be employed it is preferred to use a set consisting of twenty-six blocks.

'Ihe blocks 10 and 11 are each preferably provided with additional distinguishing or identifying indicia, preferably such as can be distinguished by the sense of touch as well as by a differing appearance. For this purpose, half of the set of blocks, such as is illustrated with respect to the block 10, may have a dimple 12 in each face thereof, and the other half of the set of blocks, such as shown with respect to the block 11, may have an annulus or ring 13 cut into each face thereof, for facilitating the use of the game by blind or color blind persons.

A plurality of each of the two types of distinguishable blocks 1t) and 11 constituting a set are employed, as hereafter explained.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. -1, 4, 5, 6 and 7 of the drawings, the block holder is there shown at 15.

The block holder 15 preferably includes a substantially rectangular or square upper plate 16 and a parallel substantially rectangular or square lower plate 17 in spaced relation thereto, preferably of identical construction for simplification in manufacture, except that the plate 16 faces upwardly and the plate 17 faces downwardly in the block holder 15 as illustrated.

Each of the plates 16 and 17 is provided, along a pair of opposite parallel edges 18 and 19 thereof, with flexible rims 20 normal thereto. The other pair of edges 21 and 22 are preferably normal to the edges 18 and 19.

Intermediate the rims 20, pairs of flexible ribs 23 are provided, normal to the central portions of the plates 16 and 17. The transverse distance between each rim 20 rand the nearest facing rib 23, and vbetween the innermost facing pairs of ribs 23 is preferably a predetermined distance slightly less than the unit dimensions of the blocks 10 and 11, for purposes to be explained.

Spacer ribs 24 are also provided, which also serve as stiffeners, extending outwardly from the outer faces of the plates 16 and 17. The ribs 24, with the rims 20 and the pairs of ribs 23, separate each of the outer faces of the plates 16 and 17 into nine block receiving locations.

A central opening or aperture 25 may be provided, if desired, in each of the plates 16 and 17.

In order to maintain the plates 16 and 17 in predetermined spaced relation, the inner faces of the plates 16 and 17 are provided with spaced parallel recesses 26, parallel to the edges 18 and 19, into which parallel vertical spacer wall sections 27 are inserted.

The wall sections 27 each have extending transversely therefrom vertical panels 28 which extend into transverse recesses 29 in the plates 16 and 17, and may, if desired, have central openings 30. The two wall sections 27 and their panels 28 divide the space between the plates 16 and 17 into nine spaces.

The wall sections 27 each have extending outwardly therefrom spaced upper and lower horizontal llexible ribs 31 and 32, the spacing between the ribs 31 and 32 being a predetermined distance less than the unit dimensions of the blocks 10 and 11.

The wall sections 27 each have extending inwardly therefrom and to the panels 28, spaced upper and lower horizontal ilexible ribs 33 and 34, with the same spacing asgthe ribs 31 and 32.

- The wall sections 27 may also have abutments or `guides 35 for aiding in positioning the blocks 10 and 11 in the spaces in which they are mounted.

The plates 16 and 17 may have linger space access cut-outs 36 in the edges 21 and 22 for facilitating the insertion and removal of the blocks 10 and 11. The wall sections 27 and 28 may have similar cut-outs 37 and 38, respectively.

It will be noted that the rims 20, the ribs 23, the ribs 31 and 32, and the ribs 33 and 34 have been described as liexible and for this purpose it is preferred to construct the holder 1S and more especially the ilexible portions formed on the plates 16 and 17, the wall sections 27 and the panels 28, from suitable natural or synthetic materials having the required inherent physical characteristics, such as rubber, synthetic rubber, vinyl, polystyrene, polyethyll ene andthe like, suitably colored.

It will also be noted that playing spaces are provided in six different outside planes, two considered horizontally and four considered vertically, and that each of these spaces has at least two exible gripping ribs for engagementby aV block or 11. The central interio-r space bounded by the plates 16 and 17, the wall sections 27 and the panels 28 is not accessible when the plates 16 and 17' and the wall sections 27 and panels Ztl are joined together, to provide a unitary construction or are molded together in one piece. This space is not a playing space and is interiorly disposed with respect to the six outside playingfaces.

in the playing of the game each player is supplied with a plurality of one particular type of block 1t) or 11, and the players take turns in inserting their particular types oi blocks 10 or 11 into the holder 15. Upon insertion of a block 10 or 11 into o-ne of the playing spaces it will be resiliently gripped between a facing pair composed of a rim 2i) anda rib 23, between a facing pair of ribs 23, between a facing pair of ribs 31 and 32, or between facing pairs of ribs 33 and 34, which flex or deform apart slightly for this purpose.

A player completing a straight line of three blocks of his type in a plane scores. The player is said to have scored one Mounty. A Mounty in one plane may be horizontally, vertically and/or diagonally and each such line is a Mounty. The play and scoring is also carried out in the other ve planes. If a continuous line of three blocks of one type crosses four planes, the player is said to have scored a Royal Mounty and a premium of four is added to his score.

Each player tries to complete as many lines of three as possible, so as-to obtain the higher score. While so doing he also tries to-so place his own blocks as to check his opponent from scoring.

It will be seen that a play of a block 10 or 11 in a corner position is actually a play in three dilerent planes, while a play of a block in an edge position, between the corner positions is a play in two diierent planes. A play inthe central space on the six outside planes is a play in a single plane.

The blocks 10 and 11 may be put into place by physicallyhandicapped` players'using only one hand, the holder 15 being rst placed upon a table and then moved until the space selected is uppermost. Then the block 10 or 11 is pressed down between the parallel grippnig ribs.

I claim:

l. A game block holder for square blocks of a predetermined size comprising a pair of spaced parallel plate members, saidV plate members having on the exterior faces thereof a plurality of spaced parallel ilexible ribs for gripping engagement of' blocks therebetween, said ribs being disposed to providey a plurality of block receiving spaceson each of said faces, connecting members between said plate memberavan'd additional spaced parallel flexible ribs on certain of said members for gripping engagement of blocks therebetween, the spaces between said additional ribs providing additional block receiving spaces, said block receiving spaces being disposed in a plurality of horizontal and in a plurality of vertical planes.

2. A game block holder for square blocks of a predetermined size comprisingia'parl of spaced parallel plate members, said plate members having on the exterior faces thereof aplurality of' spaced parallel portions for frictional gripping engagement of blocks therebetween, said portions being disposed4 to provide a plurality of block receiving spaces on each of-said faces, connecting members between said plate members, and additional spaced parallel portions on certain of said connecting members for fricw tional gripping engagement of blocks therebetween, the spaces between said additional portions providingadditional block receiving spaces, said block receiving spaces being disposed in a plurality of horizontal and in a plurality of vertical planes.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,030,317 Middaugh June 25, 1912 1,341,695 White June l, 1920 1,613,204 Smith Ian. 4, 1927 2,225,519' Dauda Dec. 17, 1940 2,313,473 Heacock Mar. 9, 1943 2,399,041 Kleber Apr. 23, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS 667,737 Great Britain Mar. 5, 1952 

